Indonesia wants integrated assistance from EU for fishing industry
Indonesia wants integrated assistance from EU for fishing industry
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government is currently working on a proposal to the European
Union (EU) to request comprehensive assistance for the country's
under-developed fishing industry, outside the EU's plan to grant
used fishing vessels.
The EU is accelerating attempts to pass a policy to grant used
fishing vessels to tsunami-stricken nations, in addition to
training assistance for local fishermen in operating the vessels
and in fisheries management.
Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu said on Monday the
government would soon submit a proposal to the EU for specific
facilities, which were suited to the needs of the fishermen, as
well as requesting the EU to expand its assistance.
"The assistance is good. But we don't want just a grant of
used vessels. We have to be sure that the vessels are suited to a
tropical climate and there should be an integrated package for
the assistance," she said at the State Palace.
Mari added that the integrated package should include a
storage system for the fish, training in operating the vessels
and training to improve the quality of the products, as well as
wide access to the market.
In addition to that, the government is also seeking assistance
from the EU in the form of laboratory equipment to enable local
fishermen to comply with the quality standards set out by the EU
market, following a number of cases where Indonesian fish were
rejected by the European market.
In a bid to maximize the function of the facilities pledged by
the EU, Mari said her ministry was considering setting up a
mechanism to allow cooperation between private enterprises in
receiving the facilities.
Joint ventures between the Indonesian and EU private sector
are expected to provide employment for local fishermen and at the
same time transfer advanced fishing technology.
The EU has a lot of ships and fishermen but insufficient
resources, while Indonesia has the marine resources but
insufficient vessels and skills.
Meanwhile, Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Freddy
Numberi said his ministry was currently studying the proposal
from the EU, since most of the fishermen in Aceh and in other
areas preferred traditional vessels which were easier to operate.
"Based on our recent study, most fishermen want traditional
vessels with three seamen and a capacity of up to 40 gross tons.
We need to carefully consider the EU's offer so it won't be under
utilized," he said.
To accommodate fishermen who are prepared to accept the
facilities, Freddy said his ministry was still working on
determining which fishing areas would be suited to the operation
of huge and modern fishing vessels in order to protect the
territory of traditional fishermen and avoid future disputes.
The government is also in the process of registering Acehnese
fishermen and documenting their needs, he added.